Research on the Relationship Between Higher Education, Technological Innovation, and Green Economy—Analysis Based on Chinese Data from 2011 to 2020

Higher education (HE) and technological innovation (TI) are increasingly crucial for green economic (GE) development. The provincial panel data of China from 2011 to 2020 were sorted out to explore the relationship between higher education, technological innovation, and the green economy. The coupling coordination and PVAR models were used to empirically analyze the coupling coordination and impulse response status of higher education, technological innovation, and green economy. The current research found that, firstly, the comprehensive development level of higher education, technological innovation, and green economy in Eastern China, Inner China, and Western China is on an upward trend as time passes. Secondly, in terms of time, the coupling coordination level among higher education, technological innovation, and green economy in Eastern China, Inner China, and Western China is on an upward trend as time passes. Thirdly, regarding space, the development of coupling coordination levels among higher education, technological innovation, and green economy in Eastern China, Inner China, and Western China is uneven. Among the regions, it shows the spatial distribution of “high in Eastern China, low in Inner, and Western China.” Within the regions, there is a spatial distribution pattern centering on “Beijing-Tianjin-Guangdong,” “Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai,” and “Shaanxi-Hubei-Chongqing,” and spreading to the surrounding areas. Finally, there are interactive and dynamic effects among higher education, technological innovation, and green economy in Eastern China, Inner China, and Western China. However, the interactive effects among the three have short-term effects, and the effects are minor, and most effects are not significant.